Staved wooden structure and the method of constructing it.



PATENTED JAN, 28, 1908. D. E. VANVAUTOR. STAVED WOODEN STRUCTURE AND THE METHOD OF GONSTRUCTING IT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20.1907.

A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT FFIDE.

DAVID E. VANVAGTOR, OF PLYMOUTH, INDIANA.

STAVED WOODEN STRUCTURE AND THE METHOD OF CON STRUCTING IT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1908.

Application filed May 20,1907. Serial No. 374.735.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, DAVID E. VANVACTOR, a citizen of the Ilnited States, residing at Plymouth, in the county of Marshall and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Staved Wooden Structures and Methods of Constructing Them, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a structure formed from wooden staves, such for example, as a hollow column, cylinder or vessel, and to render the same cheap and durable while improving its appearance.

To these ends my invention consists in the structure itself as well as in the method by which it is formed, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is an elevation ofa staved structure with the bands indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2, is a cross-sectional view, with a band in elevation taken upon the line rr, Fig. 1, Fig. 3, is the same cross-sectional view as it would appear when in process of construction, Fig. 4, is a detached portion of the same cross-sectional view in process of construction, Fig. 5, is a detached portion of the same cross-section al view presenting a modification showing the tie on the outside surface of the structure, Fig. 6, is a top view of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow, showing process of construction, Fig. 7, is a trans verse sectional view of a detached stave showing a method of punching holes for the passage of the bands, Fig. 8 is a like view of a stave showing a curved hole punched therein, and a portion of a band properly curved and in position to be threaded in the stave, and Fig. 9, shows the fastening of the ends of the band.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a cylindrical structure made up of wooden staves n, held togetherby metallic bands I) passing through the holes h and located along its length at suitable distances according to the needs of the article being manufactured.

The ends I) of each band are securely fastened by twisting them about each other at right angles to the course of the band at the point of fastening.

The process of construction is as follows: The staves n are carefully punched with a curved punch p, Fig. 7, punching from both edges of the stave so as to insure the holes registering in the several staves when they are brought together. A curved punch is used so as to make each hole in each stave the arc of a true circle, thus securing the even bearing of the band throughout its length, causing it to hug the wood with equal pressure at all points of its course, thus avoiding the liability of the band being loosened by straightening between angles, or compression of the wood at the angles, as would be the case were the holes bored straight with a revolving bit. The bands Z) are curved into a circle to correspond to the size of the structure being made, and then are threaded through the necessary number of staves to complete a circle. The structure is then trussed up with truss-hoops t using gage blocks "L between the two staves next to the ends of the bands, so as to close the several joints of the structure, and gage the bands to the required length. The ends I) of each band are then bent in, or out, to suit the purpose of the article being made, as shown in Fig. 3'. The truss-hoops are then slightly loosened and the gage blocks i removed. The truss-hoops are then tightened until all the joints between the staves are closed up. As the tightening of the truss hoops proceeds and the joint where ends of the bands protrude is about closed the protruding ends of the bands I), Fig. 4, are twisted about each other taking up the slack in the band and assisting in bringing the joints close. The pressure brought to bear upon the protruding ends 7), Fig. 4, will compress the Wood sufiiciently to make way for the twisted ends. The tightening of the truss-hoops t and the twisting of the ends of the bands I) continue until every joint of the structure is perfectly closed, and the bands I) are put under a sufficient tension to'hold the staves in place. Then the truss-hoops t are removed and the structure is turned or otherwise shaped.

Having thus described 'my invention, I claim:

1. The method of forming structures of the class described, which consists in forming registering holes through the bodies of the staves to be joined, passing bands through said. holes, clamping said staves together except the meeting edges of those from which the bands protrude, separating the latter edges temporarily, bending the ends of the bands out of the plane of the staves from which they protrude, closing the space between the staves so separated, clamping all the staves together to close the joints and finally twisting said bands to take up the slack.

2. The method of forming structures of the class described, which consists in forming holes through the bodies of the staves to be joined, passing bands through said holes to connect the staves, inserting a positive spacing element between the first and the last stave of the series, clamping said staves together with said spacing element intervening, bending the ends of the bandsfrom the plane of the staves from which they protrude, removing said spacing element, clamping said staves together to close the olnts and permanently 4. A structure ofthe class described, comprising a series of jointed staves connected by means of metallic bands projected through curved. holes formed in said staves, the curve of the hole in each stave forming an arc of a circle.

5. A structure of the class described, comprising a series of jointed staves connected by means of metallic bands projected through curved holes formed in said staves, the curve of the hole in each stave forming an arc of a circle, the ends of each band being twisted upon each. other approximately at right angles to the body of the band at the point of fastening.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 16th day of May 1907.

DAVID E. VANVACTOR.

Witnesses C. D. SNALBERGER, W. T. LEONARD. 

